Habitat associations and seasonal abundance of coprophilous coleoptera (Staphylinidae, Hydrophilidae and Histeridae) in the Hluhluwe region of South Africa

Abstract

AbstractA total of 134 species of Coleoptera (100 of staphylinids, 13 of hydrophilids and 21 of histerids) was extracted from pads of cattle dung placed in four contrasting habitats in both Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Natal, South Africa, and the surrounding pastoral regions. Pads were exposed to colonists for 24 h on eight occasions over one year. Forty-six species and species complexes were captured in numbers sufficient to permit analysis of their distribution patterns. Of 27 species significantly influenced by vegetation type, 22 were more abundant in unshaded situations and five more abundant in situations shaded by high profile vegetation. The total numbers of individual predatory staphylinids were evenly distributed between vegetation types, but members of coprophagous staphylinid and other predatory taxa were more numerous in unshaded situations. Of 13 species significantly influenced by soil type, six were more abundant on clay and seven more abundant on deep sand. The total numbers of individual coprophagous oxyteline staphylinids were greater on clay than on sand, but the members of predatory taxa, including staphylinids, were evenly distributed across soil types. Of 14 species showing significant seasonal changes in abundance, 13 were more abundant in hot wet months and one in cool dry months. The total numbers of hydrophilid individuals were greater in the cool dry season, but the other taxa were active predominantly in the rainy season. Most species were present in similar numbers in both the game reserve and pastoral regions. Enclosure of dung pads within wiremesh cones to exclude large dung-burying beetles resulted in reduced colonization by most beetle species regardless of their size.